Congregational  Churches 


Massachusetts 

Convention  of  Ministers 


An  Historical  Sketch 
Of  the  Convention 


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NOV  1 1 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

OT  THE 
OF  THE 

CONGREGATIONAL  MINISTERS 

IN 

MASSACHUSETTS  ; 

WITH 

AN  ACCOUNT   OF  ITS  FUNDS  ; 

ITS  CONNEXION  WITH  THE 

MASSACHUSETTS  CONGREGATIONAL    CHARITABLE  SOCIETY; 

AKB  ITS 

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 
MDCCCXXI. 


P'.intcd  for  the  Convention. 


CAMBRIDGE: 

PRINTEB  BY  HILLIARD  AND  METCALF. 
1821. 


IN  CONVENTION  1st  OF  JUNE,  1820, 


The  Rev.  Dr.  Porter  of  Roxbury,  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes,  Rev.  John 
t,  Wlihe  Scribe  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  prepare  for 

flln  this  Convention  and  the  Congregational  Charitable  Soeiet) 
aid  suclrother  articles  of  information,  as,  in  their  judgment,  may  be 

instructive  and  profitable. 

JOHN  CODMAN,  Scribe  of  Convention. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


Uf  the  origin  of  the  convention  of  congregational 
ministers  in  Massachusetts  the  notices  are  very  imper- 
fect. The  silence  of  the  early  historians  on  this  subject, 
especially  of  Winthrop  and  Hubbard,  is  presumptive  evi- 
dence, that  there  was  no  organized  Convention  before 
the  year  1680.  It  does  appear,  however,  that  the  minis- 
ters were  early  accustomed  to  meet  together  at  the  time 
and  place  of  the  annual  election.  The  patriarchal  char- 
acter of  the  government,  and  the  intimate  connexion  of 
the  church  with  the  state,  may,  perhaps,  account  for  this 
early  usage.  From  the  first  settlement  of  Massachusetts, 
there  was  a  confidential  intercourse  between  the  ma<ris- 
trates  and  the  ministers,  who  mutually  gave  and  received 
counsel,  as  the  circumstances  of  the  churches  or  of  the 
community  required.  It  was  intended  to  settle  and  main- 
tain a  Christian  commonwealth ;  and  their  cooperation  to 
that  great  object  was  considered  as  a  right  and  a  duty. 
While  the  magistrates  were  expected  and  asked  to  give 
their  advice  in  some  cases,  and  to  exercise  their  power  in 
others,  for  the  well  founding  of  churches,  and  for  preserv- 
ing their  order  and  peace ;  the  ministers  were  expected 
and  asked  to  give  their  opinions  and  counsel  in  the  ex- 
igences of  the  state.  Disputes  between  the  principal 
officers,  and  the  different  branches,  of  the  government 
were,  at  an  early  period,  referred  to  the  arbitration  of  the 
ministers  ;  who  were  also  called  upon  to  assist  in  settling 
the  principles  and  rules  of  government. 


4 

As  early  as  the  year  1634,  "  the  ministers  and  other  the 
most  prudent  of  the  inhabitants"  were  consulted  "  about 
a  body  of  laws,  suited  to  the  state  of  the  colony,  and  about 
an  uniform  order  of  discipline  in  the  churches."  When 
the  first  laws  of  the  colony  were  framed,  the  approbation 
of  the  ministers  was  a  condition  of  their  validity.  In 
1635,  Governor  Winthrop  observed  :  "  The  deputies  hav- 
ing conceived  great  danger  to  our  state,  in  regard  that 
our  magistrates,  for  want  of  positive  laws,  in  many  cases, 
might  proceed  according  to  their  discretions,  it  was  agreed 
that  some  men  should  be  appointed  to  frame  a  body  of 
grounds  of  laws,  in  resemblance  of  a  Magna  Charta,  which, 
being  allowed  by  some  of  the  ministers  and  the  General 
Court,  should  be  received  for  fundamental  laws."  "  Mr. 
Cotton  was  at  first  requested  by  the  General  Court  with 
some  other  ministers,  to  assist  some  of  the  magistrates"  in 
that  work  ;  and  afterwards  the  General  Court  appointed  a 
committee  of  some  magistrates,  some  ministers  and  some 
others  to  perform  that  service  :  "  Also  the  elders  [minis- 
ters] who  had  been  requested  to  deliver  their  judgment 
concerning  the  law  of  adultery,  returned  their  answer 
with  the  reasons  thereof."  The  compilation  of  laws  was 
at  last  referred  to  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ward, 
each  of  whom  "framed  a  model,  which,  in  1639,  were 
presented  to  the  General  Court,  and  by  them  committed 
to  the  governor  and  deputy  and  some  others  to  consider 
of,  and  so  prepare  it  for  the  court,"  at  another  session. 
"  At  length  to  satisfy  the  people  it  proceeded ;  and  the 
two  models  were  digested  with  divers  alterations  and  ad- 
ditions, and  abbreviated  and  sent  to  every  town  to  be  con- 
sidered of,  first  by  the  magistrates  and  elders,  and  then  to 
be  published  by  the  constables  to  all  the  people,  that  if 
any  should  think  fit  that  any  thing  therein  ought  to  be 


altered,  he  might  acquaint  some  of  the  deputies  therewith 
against  the  next  court."* 

The  early  fathers  of  New  England,  with  all  protec- 
tant divines  of  their  day,  "  allowed  a  power  in  the  civil 
magistrate,  for  the  preservation  of  the  church  in  cases 
temporal,  so  far  as  belongeth  to  the  outward  preservation, 
not  to  the  personal  administration  of  them ;"  and  held, 
that  "  the  ordinary  helps  and  external  means,  for  the  up- 
holding and  maintaining  of  peace  and  truth  in  the  churches, 
in  way  of  a  civil  power,  is  only  a  pious  and  Christian 
magistracy,  where  a  nation  is  blessed  with  it,  so  as  by  the 
help  of  the  ecclesiastical  and  the  civil  power,  acting  in  a 
way  of  subordination  each  unto  other,  all  differences  arising 
may  easily  be  composed."!  The  early  custom  of  an 
Election  Sermon  is  confirmatory  of  these  principles,  and 
of  the  influence  of  the  ministers  in  the  state.  On  these 
occasions,  the  rulers  were  publicly  and  solemnly  reminded 
of  what  was  believed  to  be  their  duty  and  their  right,  in 
religious  concerns.  "  The  eye  of  the  Civil  Magistrate," 
said  one  of  the  preachers,  "  is  to  be  the  securing  of  the 
way  of  God  that  is  duly  established  :  and  if  any  where 
this  be  the  duty  and  concern  of  rulers,  it  is  most  of  all  so 
in  New  England,  which  is  originally  a  Plantation,  not  for 
Trade,  but  for  Religion."! 

We  perceive,  then,  in  the  genius  and  character  of  our 
primitive  institutions,  why  the  ministers,  from  the  first, 
would  be  induced  to  meet  at  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the 
general  court ;  but  of  any  proceedings,  in  the  name  and 
character  of  a  Convention,  during  the  first  half  century, 
we  have  no  evidence. 

•  NVinthrop's  Journal,  1632— 1639.  Hubbard's  Hist.  New  Eng- 
land, ch.  xxvi,  xlvi. 

t  Hubbard's  Hist.  New  England,  chap.  Ixx.     Platform,  chap.  xvii. 
X  President  Oakes's  Election  Sermon,  May,  1673. 


6 

The  first  Sermon  before  the  ministers  in  Convention, 
that  has  come  to  our  knowledge,  was  preached  by  Rev. 
John  Sherman  of  Watertown,  in  1682.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding years  of  calamity,  until  the  deposition  of  Andros, 
and  the  Revolution  in  England,  in  1689,  there  is  no  ac- 
count of  Convention.  Whether  that  Revolution,  and  the 
acts  of  the  provincial  legislature,  passed  soon  afterwards, 
affecting  ministers  and  churches,  influenced  the  ministers 
to  a  more  formal  organization  of  a  Convention,  or  to  a 
more  stated  attendance  at  the  annual  meeting,  or  what- 
ever were  the  cause,  this  appears  to  be  the  epoch  of  a 
regular  Convention. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  government  under  the  char- 
ter of  1692,  the  congregational  ministers  of  Massachusetts 
"  practised  the  holding  of  a.  convention  in  Boston,  on  the 
next  day  after  the  general  election  of  counsellors."*  In 
Mather's  Magnalia,  1698,  there  is  a  distinct  reference  to 
the  Convention.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker,  towards  the  close 
of  his  life,  had  advised  to  the  constant  meetings  of  minis- 
ters. "  According  to  the  advice  of  Mr.  Hooker,"  says  Dr. 
Mather,  "  it  has  been  the  care  of  the  ministers,  in  the 
several  vicinages  throughout  the  most  part  of  the  country, 
to  establish  constant  meetings,  whereat  they  have  inform- 
ed one  another  of  their  various  exercises,  and  assisted  one 
another  in  the  work  of  our  Lord :  besides  a  general  ap- 
pearance of  all  the  ministers  in  each  colony,  once  a  year, 
at  the  town,  and  the  time  of  the  General  Court  for  Elec- 
tions of  Magistrates  in  the  colonies. "f  In  a  later  work 
of  the  same  author  the  Convention  is  expressly  mentioned, 
with  the  time  of  its  meeting,  its  leading  objects,  and  the 
custom  of  an  annual  Sermon :  "  How  often  Provincial 
Synods  were  held  in  Firmilian's  time,  is  evident  from  that 

*  Appendix  to  Dr.  Thachers  Sermon  before  the  Massachusetts 
Congregational  Charitable  Society. 
t  Magnalia,  Book  v.  p.  58. 


Report  of  his,  Per  singulos  cuinos  in  unum  conveniunt.  The 
churches  of  New  England  can  have  no  such  thing  report- 
ed of  them.  They  have  no  provincial  synods,  and  their 
occasional  synods,  on  special  emergencies,  and  of  smaller 
dimensions,  are  but  as  the  occasions  happen  for  them. 
The  thing  among  them  that  is  the  nearest  thereunto,  is  a 
General  Convention  of  ministers  (which,  perhaps,  are  not 
above  half)  belonging  to  the  Province,  at  the  time  of  the 
Anniversary  Solemnity,  when  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Province  meets,  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  the  month 
of  May,  to  elect  their  Counsellors  for  the  year  ensuing. 
Then  the  Ministers,  chusing  a  Moderator,  do  propose 
matters  of  public  importance,  referring  to  the  interest  of 
Religion  in  the  churches ;  and  though  they  assume  no 
decisive  power,  yet  the  advice  which  they  give  to  the  peo- 
ple of  God  has  proved  of  great  use  unto  the  country. 
There  is  now  taken  up  the  custom  for  (Concio  ad  Clerum,) 
a  Sermon  to  be  preached  unto  the  Convention  of  Minis- 
ters, on  the  day  after  the  Election,  by  one  of  their  num- 
ber, chosen  to  it  by  their  votes,  at  their  meeting  in  the 
preceding  year.  At  this  Convention,  every  pastor,  that 
meets  with  singular  difficulties,  has  opportunity  to  bring 
them  under  consideration.  But  the  question  most  usually 
now  considered,  is  of  this  importance,  What  may  be  fur- 
ther proposed,  for  the  preserving  and  promoting  of  true  piety 
in  the  land  ?  Excellent  things  have  been  here  concerted 
and  concluded  for  the  propagation  of  religion,  and  collec- 
tions produced  for  that  purpose  in  all  the  churches.  And 
motions  have  been  hence  made  unto  the  General  Assembly, 
for  such  Acts  and  Laws  as  the  morals  of  the  people  have 
railed  for."*     The  Governor  of  the  Province,  and  such 

"  Ratio  Disciplinae  Fratrum  Nov-Anglorum  :  "  A  Faithful  Ac- 
count of  the  Discipline  professed  and  practised  in  the  Churches  of 
New  England,"  1726. 


n 

counsellors  as  lived  in  Boston,  together  with  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  town,  and  the  Speaker,  were  invited  to  dine 
with  the  ministers  on  the  day  after  the  Election — "  some 
small  resemblance,"  says  Dr.  Mather,  "  of  what  is  called 
The  Feast  of  Moses  and  Aaron,  in  the  Netherlands." 

The  Convention  has  been  accustomed  to  address  the 
civil  rulers,  and  to  use  its  influence  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  learning,  and  the  conservation  of  the  public  liber- 
ties. It  has  presented  addresses  to  the  King,  to  the  Gov- 
ernors, to  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States ;  and  memorials  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States.  After  addressing  the  late  king  at  his 
accession,  the  Convention  voted  thanks  to  governor  Ber- 
nard "  for  the  kind  care  he  was  pleased  to  take  of  their 
address  to  his  Majesty ;  as  also,  for  the  regard  which  he 
has  shown  to  the  interest  of  learning  in  the  Province — 
and  humbly  to  desire  the  continuance  of  his  Excellency's 
favour  to  Harvard  College  in  Cambridge." 

The  Convention  has  maintained  a  friendly  and  Chris- 
tian correspondence  with  other  associated  ministers,  of  the 
Protestant  Reformed  churches,  at  home  and  abroad.  In 
1750,  "  the  Convention  being  sensible  of  the  great  import- 
ance of  cultivating  a  stricter  union  with  our  brethren  of 
the  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  denominations  in 
England,  and  particularly  their  deputation  at  London," 
voted  to  choose  annually  a  committee  in  their  behalf,  "  to 
manage  and  cultivate  said  union  and  correspondences, 
and  annually  report  their  proceedings  to  the  Convention, 
and  receive  their  directions  from  time  to  time."  On  the 
reception  of  a  letter  from  delegates  from  the  Associated 
pastors  in  Connecticut  and  a  committee  of  the  Synod  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  inviting  them  to  join  with 
them  in  a  proposed  convention  at  New  Haven  in  1 767, 
the  Convention  voted  :    "  That  although  we  are  not  pre- 


pared  to  send  delegates  to  the  proposed  Convention,  yet. 
we  take  this  occasion  to  declare  our  sincere  affection  to 
our  brethren,  and  our  fellowship  with  them  in  the  gospel, 
and  our  readiness  to  unite  our  counsels  and  endeavours 
with  them  for  the  spreading  of  the  Gospel,  and  defending 
the  religious  liberties  of  these  Churches;  for  cultivating  love 
and  harmony  among  ourselves  and  with  our  friends  abroad, 
and  for  promoting  the  kingdom  of  our  common  Re- 
deemer." A  committee  of  correspondence  was  chosen ; 
and  instructed  also,  to  write  to  the  committee  of  deputa- 
tion of  Dissenters  in  England,  "to  thank  them  for  the 
concern  they  have  expressed  for  our  Religious  Liberties  ; 
and  to  desire  that  they  would  give  us  their  assistance,  and 
use  their  influence  for  the  preservation  of  the  same,  and, 
in  particular,  that  a  bishop  may  not  be  sent  among  us." 
In  1668,  the  thanks  of  Convention  were  voted  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Chauncy,  "for  his  just  and  seasonable  Remarks  on  a 
late  Sermon  of  the  bishop  of  Landaff,  preached  before  the 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel ;  as  also  for  his  learn- 
ed and  judicious  Reply  to  Dr.  Chandler's  Appeal  in  favour 
of  an  American  Episcopate  ;"  and,  in  1770,  "  for  his 
learned  and  judicious  Reply  to  Dr.  Chandler's  Vindication 
of  his  Appeal." 

In  1771,  the  Convention  chose  a  committee,  "to  main- 
tain a  correspondence  with  our  brethren  in  the  Southern 
Governments  ;  and,  in  1 792,  a  committee,  to  consider  the 
proposal  of  forming  a  correspondence  with  the  General 
Presbytery  of  the  Southern  States,  and  General  Associa- 
tion of  Congregational  Ministers  in  Connecticut."  In 
1793,  a  committee  of  correspondence  was  chosen,  with 
instructions  to  write  to  those  two  bodies,  "  proposing  to 
them  not  to  receive  or  countenance  any  candidate  from 
us,  who  does  not  bring  credentials  from  a  regular  body 
among  us  known  to  them,  and  assuring  them  that  we  will 
2 


10 

observe  the  same  rule  with  respect  to  candidates  from 
them ;  and  informing  them  that  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear 
from  them  upon  all  subjects  which  relate  to  the  interests 
of  our  common  Christianity,  and  to  communicate  every 
information  upon  such  subjects  as  may  tend  to  promote 
the  interests  of  Religion." 

The  Convention  has  occasionally  called  the  attention 
of  ministers  and  churches  to  the  principles  of  their  Plat- 
form, and  given  cautions  and  admonitions  against  preva- 
lent errors.     In  1702,  it  published  "A  Seasonable  Testi- 
mony to  the  glorious  doctrines  of  grace,  at  this  day  many 
ways  undermined  in  the  world."     In  1704,  "to  serve  the 
great  intentions  of  religion,  lamentably  decaying  in  the 
country,"  it  was  proposed  by  Convention :  "  That  the 
pastors   of  the   churches   personally   discourse  with  the 
young  people  in  their  flocks,  and  with  all  possible  pru- 
dence and  goodness  endeavour  to  win  their  consent  to  the 
Covenant  of  grace  ;  that,  to  this  end,  they  adopt  the  prac- 
tice of  making  their  personal  visits  to  all  the  families  that 
belong  to  their  Congregations ;"  that,  as  far  as  practicable, 
they  thus  induce  their  people  "  publicly  and  solemnly  to  re- 
cognise the  Covenant  of  God,  and  come  into  such  a  degree 
of  the  Church  state,  as  they  shall  be  willing  to  take  their 
station  in,  but  not  to  leave  off,  till  they  shall  be  qualified 
for,  and  persuaded  to,  communion  with  the  Church  in  all 
special  ordinances ;  that  for  such  as  have  submitted  to  the 
government  of  Christ  in  any  of  his  churches,  no  pastors 
of  any  other  churches,  any  way  go  to  shelter  them  un- 
der their  wing,  from  the  discipline  of  those  from  whom 
they  have  not  been  fairly  recommended  ;  that  they  who 
have  not  actually  recognised  their  subjection  to  the  disci- 
pline of  Christ  in  his  church,  yet  should,  either  upon  their 
obstinate  refusal  of  such  a  subjection,  or  their  falling  into 
other  scandals,  be  faithfully  treated  with  proper  admoni- 


11 

tions — about  the  method  of  managing  which,  the  pastors 
with  their  several  churches  will  be  left  to  the  exercise  of 
their  own  discretion."  The  desire  and  intention  were  also 
expressed,  "  That  at  the  General  Convention  of  Ministers, 
there  may  be  given  in  an  account  of  their  success"  in  the 
proposed  undertaking ;  "that  the  Lord  may  have  the  glory 
of  his  grace,  and  the  condition  of  religion  may  be  better 
known  and  served  among  us."  In  subserviency  to  these 
intentions,  it  was  proposed,  "  That  the  Associations  of  the 
ministers  in  the  several  parts  of  the  country  may  be 
strengthened  ;  and  that  they  may  hold  more  free  commu- 
nications with  one  another."*  In  1756,  on  receiving  a 
letter  with  papers  from  a  number  of  aggrieved  brethren  of 
a  Church,  relating  to  the  installation  of  a  minister,  the 
Convention  voted  it  as  their  opinion,  "  that  all  such  pro- 
ceedings as  these  are  represented  to  be,  are  very  irregular, 
against  which  they  think  themselves  obliged  to  bear  their 
testimony,  as  having  a  manifest  tendency  to  destroy  these 
churches,  if  not  seasonably  discountenanced."  In  1757, 
it  was  "  recommended  by  the  Convention  to  the  ministers 
and  people  throughout  the  Province,  to  give  themselves  to 
more  solemn  and  devout  prayer,  and  reformation  of  man- 
ners, in  this  very  important  crisis  of  our  public  affairs." 
The  same  year,  the  Convention  directed  a  letter  to  be 
written  to  a  distant  people,  that  had  received  their  chari- 
ties, "  expostulating  with  them  upon  their  doing  so  little 
towards  the  support  of  the  gospel,  and  ordinances  of  reli- 
gion among  them  ;  and  representing  to  them,  that  if  they 
persist  in  such  a  conduct,  the  Convention  must  withdraw 
the  large  assistance  they  have  so  long  afforded  them  for 
this  purpose."  In  1773,  it  was  voted,  that  the  state  of 
the  churches  in  this  Province,  with  respect  to  church 
order  and  discipline,  is  such  as  to  require  the  attention  of 
this  Convention.  A  committee  was  chosen,  to  make  clili- 
*  Ratio  Disciplinee,  177 — 179. 


12 

gent  inquiry  into  the  sense  and  meaning  of  the  Platform 
of  Church  Discipline,  and  the  general  practice  of  our  Fa- 
thers and  of  the  Churches  in  this  land  from  their  days, 
with  respect  to  church  order.  The  Report  of  this  com- 
mittee was  directed  to  be  printed  and  published. 

Before  the  institution  of  Bible  Societies,  which  have  so 
wonderfully  contributed  to  the  diffusion  of  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures in  our  time,  the  Convention  paid  particular  attention 
to  this  most  important  subject.     On  receiving  an  Address 
from  the  North  Association  in  Hampshire  county,  in  1 782, 
representing  the  great  want  of  Bibles  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  praying  the   Convention  to  use  their  influ- 
ence by  petitioning  the  General  Court  to  grant  assistance 
and  encouragement  for  printing  the  Bible  in  this  country ; 
and  several  similar  representations  from  other  parts  of  the 
country ;  the  Convention  chose  a  committee,  to  take  the 
subject  under  serious  consideration,  and  use  such  means 
as  should  to  them  appear  most  promising,  "  to  put  it  in 
the  power  of  those  who  are  destitute  of  Bibles,  to  pur- 
chase them  in  the  most  cheap  and  expeditious  manner." 
An  Address,  in  1789,  from  the  Association  of  ministers 
in  and  about  Cambridge,  relative  to  licensing,  encourag- 
ing, or   employing  candidates  for  the  ministry,  induced 
the  printing  and  publishing  of  "  A  Recommendation  from 
the  Convention  of  the  Congregational  Ministers  at  Bos- 
ton,  May   26,   1790."     After   a   preamble,   stating   the 
grounds  of  the  recommendation,  the  Convention, 

1.  Recommend  it  to  all  young  gentlemen,  who  design  to 
devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  to  spend  that 
portion  of  time  in  the  study  of  divinity,  previously  to  ap- 
pearing in  the  pulpit,  which  improved  and  judicious  advi- 
sers shall  think  necessary  to  qualify  them  for  public  teachers. 

2.  They  earnestly  recommend  it  to  Congregational 
Ministers  and  People,  not  to  encourage  or  employ  any 


13 

one  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  except  he  show  by 
written  testimonials,  that  he  has  been  carefully  examined 
respecting  his  acquaintance  with  the  principles  of  natural 
and  revealed  religion,  and  other  things  necessary  to  qua- 
lify him  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  that  he  is  pro- 
perly recommended  to  it,  as  a  man  of  knowledge  and 
good  character,  by  some  regular  Congregational  Associa- 
tion or  Presbytery. 

3.  To  ministers  not  associated,  they  suggest  the  import- 
ance of  their  commencing  members  of  regular  Associa- 
tions, as  soon  as  opportunity  present;  for,  say  they,  "  we 
are  all  members  of  the  same  body,  and  are  called  by  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  to  cooperate  with  each  other,  in  promot- 
ing the  interest  of  a  learned,  judicious  and  religious  min- 
istry." 

In  1799,  the  Convention  unanimously  voted  an  Address 
to  their  brethren  of  the  respective  Associations,  and  the 
unassociated  ministers  in  this  Commonwealth,  "  recom- 
mending to  them  seriously  to  consider  the  alarming  pre- 
valence of  infidelity  and  immorality  ;  and  exhorting  them 
to  vigilance  and  activity  in  their  several  stations,  in  resist- 
ing the  progress  of  those  principles,  and  reviving  and 
promoting  the  spirit  of  true  Christianity,  by  those  means 
which  they  may  think  most  expedient." 

In  1802,  the  Convention  published  an  Address,  express- 
ing their  sentiments  "on  the  propriety  and  importance 
of  using  the  Scriptures  in  Schools ;  calling  the  attention 
of  their  brethren,  of  the  people  at  large,  and  especially 
of  those  who  are  by  law  appointed  the  visitors  of  our 
schools,  to  this  interesting  subject." 

In  1804,  a  motion  was  made  in  Convention,  to  address 
the  Associations  of  Congregational  Ministers  on  the  subject 
of  forming  a  Convention  "  for  the  purpose  of  agreeing 
upon  a  plan  of  friendly  ministerial  union,  and  for  estab- 


14 

lishing  a  General  Association.  "  The  Convention  chose 
a  committee  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  Proposition  ; 
instructing  them  to  transmit  it  to  the  several  Associations 
of  Congregational  Ministers  in  the  Commonwealth,  re- 
questing them  to  take  the  subject  into  their  serious  con- 
sideration, and  to  offer  their  sentiments  upon  it  to  Con- 
vention through  their  committee  previously  to  the  meeting 
of  the  Convention  in  May,  1805."  At  that  meeting,  the 
committee  reported  the  returns  they  had  received ;  and, 
on  the  whole,  concluded  their  Report  in  favour  of  the 
Proposition.  After  a  discussion  of  the  Report,  and 
mature  deliberation,  the  question  oi  acceptance  was  deter- 
mined in  the  negative. 

On  certain  questions  relating  to  church  order,  proposed 
to  the  Convention  by  an  Association  in  1813,  the  Con- 
vention, learning  "  that  a  particular  case  exists,  which 
gave  rise  to  the  questions,  and  to  which  the  opinion  of 
Convention,  if  pronounced,  would  in  all  probability  be 
applied,"  declined  giving  a  distinct  answer  ;  but  earnestly 
recommended,  "that,  in  any  case  of  difficulty  existing  be- 
tween churches,  means  should  be  employed  in  the  proper 
ecclesiastical  way,  and  with  the  spirit  of  Christian  meek- 
ness and  charity,  to  bring  it  to  an  amicable  adjustment,  or 
a  regular  decision." 

Where  the  Convention  was  accustomed  to  assemble, 
in  early  times,  does  not  appear.  After  the  American  revo- 
lution, the  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Courthouse, 
until  the  erection  of  the  new  one  ;  since  which  time  the 
Convention  has  been  indulged  with  the  use  of  that  con- 
venient edifice  for  its  annual  meetings.  About  a  century 
since,  as  we  learn  from  Dr.  Mather,  a  dinner  was  gener- 
ously provided  for  the  Convention  by  the  deacons  of  the 
united  churches  in  Boston  ;  and  the  governor  and  princi- 
pal gentlemen  in  the  government  were  invited  with  the 


15 

ministers  on  that  occasion.  How  long  this  usage  contin- 
ued is  not  known.  In  1 769,  the  Convention  voted  thanks 
to  Dr.  Sewall,  then  in  the  decline  of  life,  "  for  his  kind- 
ness and  hospitality  in  accommodating  the  Convention  ior 
so  many  years  at  his  house."  For  several  years,  the 
ministers  of  Boston  were  accustomed  to  invite  the  mem- 
bers of  Convention  to  dine  at  their  tables.  In  1806,  a 
dinner  was  provided  by  a  subscription  of  sundry  gentle- 
men in  Boston  ;  and  the  surplus  of  the  money,  thus  gen- 
erously subscribed,  was  to  be  given  to  the  Congregational 
Charitable  Society.  The  thanks  of  the  Convention  were 
voted  to  those  gentlemen  for  their  attention  and  liberality 
— which  have  since  been  often  experienced.  More 
recently,  the  congregational  societies  in  Boston  have  pro- 
vided a  liberal  entertainment  for  the  Convention,  under 
direction  of  the  deacons  of  their  churches ;  of  which  a 
grateful  sense  has  been  testified  by  their  votes. 

Objects  of  Convention. 

From  the  transactions  of  the  Convention  it  appears,  that 
its  design  has  been,  to  promote  brotherly  love  and  religious 
improvement ;  to  give  advice  to  ministers  in  difficult  cases  ; 
to  consider  the  best  means  for  preserving  and  promoting 
piety  ;  to  concert  measures  for  the  propagation  of  religion, 
and  to  promote  collections  for  that  purpose ;  to  act  in 
concert,  as  far  as  suitable  to  the  ministerial  character,  in 
all  matters  of  general  concern,  respecting  the  interests  of 
religion,  and  the  order,  peace,  liberties,  and  prosperity  of 
the  Congregational  Churches ;  to  hold  correspondences 
with  other  associated  pastors  and  churches,  relative  to  the 
interests  of  the  church  and  of  religion ;  to  aid  poor  par- 
ishes in  supporting  their  ministers ;  to  assist  indigent  min- 
isters, their  widows   and   orphan   children  ;    to   provide 


16     , 

funds  for  the  relief  of  widows  and  orphans  of  ministers, 
and  direct  the  distribution  of  this  charity ;  to  bear  testi- 
mony against  prevailing  errors  in  doctrine,  discipline,  or 
manners ;  to  remonstrate  to  delinquent  churches  and  peo- 
ple concerning  neglect  to  support  the  gospel ;  and  to 
recommend  whatever  may  be  of  general  use  to  ministers 
and  churches,  or  to  the  commonwealth  and  country.  It 
also  appears,  that  the  proceedings,  relative  to  objects  and 
'  persons  external  to  the  Convention,  have  always  been  by 
way  of  counsel,  recommendation,  advice,  or  congratula- 
tion ;  and  not  on  the  ground  of  assumed  or  delegated 
authority. 

Origin  and  state  of  the  Fund. 

The  Convention  appears  to  have  kept  no  records  until 
1748.  It  was  then  voted,  at  the  annual  meeting,  to  have 
a  blank  Book,  in  which  should  be  entered  the  minutes  of 
the  Convention,  with  the  votes  and  accounts.  Minutes, 
it  is  evident,  had  been  previously  kept ;  for,  at  the  same 
meeting,  "  the  minutes  of  the  transactions  of  the  last  Con- 
vention were  read."  The  collections,  too,  it  appears,  had 
already  been  such  as  to  require  a  treasurer ;  for  the  ac- 
counts of  the  last  year  were  presented  and  accepted  ;  the 
thanks  of  Convention  were  given  to  Dr.  Sewall,  the 
treasurer,  for  his  care  and  fidelity ;  and  he  was  requested 
to  continue  in  the  office  the  ensuing  year.  By  an  appli- 
cation from  a  society  in  Rhode  Island,  requesting  "  assist- 
ance towards  the  maintenance  of  a  minister,"  and  by 
other  evidences,  it  appears,  that  the  Convention  had  alrea- 
dy "  dispersed  abroad"  its  alms.  A  measure  was  now 
adopted  for  the  establishment  of  a  Fund.  It  was  voted, 
"that  the  Convention  recommend  it  to  the  ministers 
through  the  Province,  that  they  endeavour  that  there  may 


17 

be  a  Collection  in  their  several  Congregations  towards  a 
Fund  for  the  propagation  of  the  Christian  religion." 

The  monies,  collected  by  the  Convention,  appear  to 
have  been  distributed  among  indigent  ministers  until  the 
year  1762.  A  question  was  then  proposed,  "  Whether  the 
Convention  will  choose  a  committee  to  consider  what  may 
be  done  to  render  their  annual  contribution  more  exten- 
sively useful  and  beneficial ;  and  in  order  hereto,  whether 
a  part  of  it  should  be  applied  to  the  use  of  ministers'  wid- 
ows and  children,  who  might  need  the  same,  as  well  as  to 
indigent  ministers."  It  was  voted  in  the  affirmative ;  and 
a  committee  was  accordingly  chosen. 

Of  the  Collection  that  year,  four  pounds  ten  shillings 
were  appropriated  to  the  proposed  Fund  for  ministers' 
widows  and  children.  This  was  the  commencement  of 
the  Convention's  Fund.* 

At  the  annual  meeting,  30  May,  1 765,  the  Convention 
voted,  that  the  unappropriated  part  of  the  Collection  this 
day  be  added  to  the  sum  already  in  the  treasury,  to  lie  as 
a  Fund  towards  the  support  of  ministers'  widows  and 
children  that  are  indigent,  agreeable  to  some  plan  that 
may  hereafter  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Convention ;  and  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  prepare  and  offer  a  plan  accord- 

*  The  Collection  was  £"0Z.  6s.  3d.  (old  tenor.)  I.    s.  d. 

Of  which,  appropriated  to  6  ministers       ...     80     4  0 

"  "  to  1  widow 3  17  6 

to  poor  ministers'  widows  2     5  0 

"  to  proposed  Fund      .    .    4  10  0 

90  16  6 

Of  the  unappropriated  money  were  voted, 

To  Providence,  to  support  preaching 50  0  0 

Rev.  O.  Campbell,  (Tiverton) 79  9  9 

Rev.  Mr.  Torry,  (S.  Kingston) 50  0  0 

179    9    9 

3 


18 

ingly.  In  1766,  the  committee  not  reporting  a  plan, 
another  committee  was  chosen  to  prosecute  the  design ; 
and  a  vote  was  passed,  "  That  the  money  already  in  hand, 
and  what  may  this  year  be  devoted  for  a  Fund  for  the 
relief  of  poor  ministers'  widows  and  children,  be  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sewall,  Dr.  Chauncy,  and  Mr. 
Cooper,  to  be  by  them  improved  at  interest  for  the  use 
aforesaid."  A  committee  was  thus  appointed  annually, 
to  act  as  trustees,  until  the  incorporation  of  a  Society  for 
the  care  and  management  of  the  Fund. 

In  this  "  day  of  small  things,"  a  valuable  legacy  was 
bequeathed  to  the  benevolent  object,  which  had  long  been 
occupying  the  thoughts  and  care  of  the  Convention.  Mr. 
Judah  Monis,  a  Jew  by  birth,  who  had  embraced  the 
Christian  religion  and  been  baptized  at  Cambridge,  where 
he  lived  many  years  as  a  Hebrew  instructer,  died  in  1 764, 
leaving  most  of  his  estate  to  this  pious  charity.  How  it 
was  to  be  managed  and  applied,  appears  by  the  Will :  "  I 
also  will  that  all  my  real  estate  be  sold  by  my  Executors 

and  that  the  proceeds  of  such  sale  be  deposited  in  the 

hands  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Nathaniel  Appleton,  minister  of 
the  first  Parish  in  Cambridge,  Ebenezer  Gay  of  Hingham, 
minister  of  the  first  Parish  there,  John  Martin  minister  of 
the  second  Parish  in  Westborough  [now  Northborough], 
Andrew  Eliot  of  Boston,  minister  of  a  Church  of  Christ 
there,  and  Thomas  Barnard  of  Salem,  minister  of  a 
Church  of  Christ  there,  or  their  respective  successors  in 
said  office,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  widows  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Christ  in  the  Province in  this  form,  namely,  the 

principal  sum  to  be  let  out  on  lawful  interest  by  the  said 
ministers,  and  their  said  successors  in  the  office  aforesaid 
forever,  and  the  interest  thereof  distributed  by  them  or  the 
major  part  of  them,  as  they,  with  the  advice  of  the  Con- 
vention of  the  Ministers  of  the  Congregational  persuasion. 


19 

at  their  Anniversary  Meeting,  shall  judge  proper  forever.'" 
Mr."  Monis  also  gave,  for  the  same  purpose,  sucli  part  of 
his  personal  estate,  as  should  not,  after  his  decease,  be 
found  disposed  of  to  other  persons  or  uses.  On  the  set- 
tlement of  the  estate,  the  sum  ordered  by  the  Judge  of 
Probate  to  be  paid  to  the  Trustees,  23  May,  1766,  was 
one  hundred  and  eleven  pounds,  sixteen  shillings,  and 
eight  pence.*  The  Convention,  thus  encouraged  to  pur- 
sue their  object,  voted,  that  year,  "  That  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  pounds  of  the  unappropriated  money,  collected 
this  day,  be  added  to  the  sum  already  collected  towards  a 
Fund  for  the  relief  of  Indigent  Widows  and  poor  orphan 
Children  of  Ministers,  to  be  improved  at  interest,  agree- 
able to  a  vote  of  the  Convention  passed  this  day."f 

In  1 767,  the  committee,  chosen  to  prepare  and  offer  a 
plan  for  a  Fund,  reported,  that  the  Convention  empower 
a  number  from  themselves  to  apply  in  their  name  to  the 
General  Court  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  "  in  order  to 
the  more  effectual  management  of  the  Fund  to  be  raised 
for  the  relief  of  their  Widows  and  orphan  Children ;" 
pointed  out  means  to  raise  this  Fund,  and  to  direct  as  to 
its  application ;  and  recommended,  "  as  it  will  be  some 

*  The  Monis  Fund  is  now  8400  ;  the  interest  of  which  the 
Trustees  annually  divide  among  four  widows,  with  the  concurrence 
of  Convention,  to  which  they  make  an  annual  Report. 

t  On  the  Record  of  this  year  is  entered  the  following  "  Account 
of  the  several  sums  already  devoted  to  the  proposed  Fund  for  the 
relief  of  the  Widows  and  orphan  Children  of  poor  Ministers." 

I      s.    d. 
Appropriated  in  the  Collection,  May  27,  176-2      6  15     0  (old  tenor) 

May  26,  1763     48     8     5 

May  29,  1765       4  15     0 

Voted  the  whole  unapprop.  coll.  May  29,  1765  211     1     4 

Appropriated  in  the  Collection  May  29,  1766       4  19    0 

Voted  of  the  unapprop.  coll.        May  29,  1766  100     0    0 

375  18     9 


20 

time  before  a  corporation  can  be  constituted  and  the  con- 
stitution receive  the  royal  assent,  that,  in  the  mean  time, 
the    money  collected  at  the  annual  Convention,  except 
what  may  be  appropriated,  be  put  into  the  hands  of  a 
number  of  the  Convention  to  be  by  them,  as  Trustees,  put 
out  at  interest,  and  that  the  interest  be  disposed  of  annu- 
ally, by  the  Convention,  on  the  forenoon  preceding  the 
public   Exercises  and  Collection,  to  such   Widows  and 
orphan  Children  of  Ministers  of  the  Massachusetts  Pro- 
vince, as  they  shall  think  fit."     The  Convention  accepted 
the  Report,  and  voted,  "  that  it  be  forthwith  carried  into 
execution."     A  vote  was  also  passed,  That  the  proposed 
Incorporate  Society  do  consist  of  an  equal  number  of  min- 
isters and  of  lay-gentlemen  ;  and  that  the  whole  number 
should  be  thirty.  Fifteen  laymen,  of  distinguished  character 
in  the  state,  and  the  same  number  of  ministers,  were  then 
"  nominated  and  voted  to  be  first  members  of  the  proposed 
Incorporate  Society."     At  the  head  of  the  former  appears 
the  name  of  "  His  Honour  Thomas  Hutchinson,   Lieut. 
Governour."     The  commotions,  soon  after  excited  in  the 
Province  by  the  Stamp  Act ;  the  dissatisfaction  with  the 
gubernatorial  administration ;  and  the  revolutionary  war, 
which  convulsed  the  country,  and  put  "  all  the  founda- 
tions out  of  course,"  sufficiently  account  for  a  delay  of  the 
execution  of  the  plan  of  Convention  for  several  years. 
After  the  successful  termination  of  a  long  war,  and  the 
tranquil  settlement  of  the  commonwealth  as  an  Indepen- 
dent State,  the  plan  was  auspiciously  resumed. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Fund  of  the  Convention  received 
a  considerable  addition  from  the  estate  of  the  Hon.  John 
Alford,  Esq*  of  Charlestown,  lately  deceased,  who  had 
given  a  discretionary  power  to  his  Executors  for  appro- 
priations to  certain  charitable  and  literary  objects.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Convention  in  1775,  a  letter  was  com- 


21 

mupicated  from  Richard  Cary,  Esq.  informing  the  Con- 
vention, that  the  Executors  had  agreed  to  give  fifty  pounds 
sterling  to  the  Fund  for  the  relief  of  the  Widows  and 
orphan  Children  of  poor  Ministers  out  of  the  estate  of 
Col.  Alford.  It  was  stated,  at  the  same  time,  that  this 
sum  had  been  received  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Conven- 
tion. The  particular  acknowledgments  and  thanks  of  the 
Convention  were  presented  to  the  Executors  of  the  Will 
of  Col.  Alford,  "  for  this  kind  and  liberal  donation,  where- 
in they  have  not  only  evidenced  a  generous  pity  to  a  dis- 
tressed and  very  helpless  part  of  the  community,  but  have 
discovered  a  friendly  regard  to  the  Ministry  of  this  Pro- 
vince." The  Convention  embraced  this  opportunity  "  to 
testify  their  grateful  sense  of  the  noble  benevolence  of  the 
Honourable  and  wrorthy  Testator;  and  to  express  their 
pleasing  expectation,  that  his  munificent  bequest,  so  wise- 
ly distributed,  by  his  Executors,  to  this  and  other  exten- 
sively useful  institutions,  will  serve  to  transmit  the  memory 
of  Col.  Alford  with  honour  to  the  latest  posterity." 

In  1788,  the  Convention  voted,  That  the  Trustees  now 
living  be  desired  to  continue  ;  and  chose  a  committee  "  to 
prepare  a  plan  for  a  Fund  to  be  established  in  this  Com- 
monwealth for  the  relief  of  the  Widows  and  orphan  Chil- 
dren of  poor  Ministers,  and  for  other  purposes  which  may 
be  mentioned  in  said  plan ;"  and  to  lay  the  plan  before 
the  General  Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  and  to  use  their 
influence  to  obtain  a  Charter.  In  1784,  the  committee 
reported  a  plan,  and  the  form  of  a  Bill  for  an  Act  of  In- 
corporation ;  and  after  some  emendation,  a  committee  was 
chosen,  to  fill  up  the  blanks,  and  perfect  the  Bill  for  a 
Society  to  be  incorporated,  and,  when  completed,  to  use 
their  best  endeavours  to  obtain  a  Charter  of  the  General 
Court.  In  1785,  the  Convention  voted  to  renew  their 
application  to  the  General  Court  for  the  same  purpose. 


Connexion  between  the  Convention  and  the  Congregational 
Charitable  Society. 

An  Act  of  Incorporation  was  at  length  obtained.  At 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Convention  in  1786,  a  commit- 
tee on  the  subject  made  report ;  and  the  act  was  read. 
It  was  passed  24  March,  1786,  and  was  signed,  as  ap- 
proved, by  governor  Bowdoin.  The  preamble  states  its 
origin  and  object :  "  Whereas  a  number  of  congregational 
ministers  within  this  Commonwealth  have  petitioned,  and 
it  appears  to  the  General  Court  expedient,  that  a  number 
of  persons  be  incorporated  into  a  Society  for  the  humane 
and  benevolent  purposes  of  affording  relief  and  support  to 
the  widows  and  children  of  deceased  ministers  and  other 
persons  therein  mentioned  :  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court" 
&c.  The  names  of  twenty  persons  are  inserted  in  the  Act ; 
ten  of  whom  were  laymen,  and  ten  ministers.  The  Act 
incorporates  them  into  a  Society   by  the   name  of  the 

MASSACHUSETTS  CONGREGATIONAL    CHARITABLE  SOCIETY  ; 

and  ordains,  "  that  they  and  such  others  as  shall  be  duly 
elected  into  the  said  corporation,  shall  be  and  remain  a 
body  politic  and  corporate,  by  the  same  name,  style  and 
title  forever."  One  article  of  the  Act  requires,  that  all 
grants,  donations,  devises  and  bequests,  made  to  the  So- 
ciety, shall  be  used  and  improved  to  the  best  advantage ; 
and  that  the  annual  income  shall  be  applied  to  the  support 
of  such  widows  and  children  of  deceased  congregational 
ministers,  as  have  been  or  shall  be  settled  within  this 
Commonwealth,  and  of  widows  and  children  of  the  presi- 
dent and  professors  of  the  University  in  Cambridge,  as,  in 
the  opinion  of  said  corporation,  shall  be  proper  objects  of 
the  said  charity."  The  Act  requires  the  Society  to  meet 
some  time  in  the  month  of  May  annually;    and   gives 


23 

power  to  elect  by  ballot  any  other  person  or  persons  as 
members  of  it :  "  Provided  always,  that  the  said  Society 
shall  not  at  any  time  consist  of  more  than  thirty  members  ; 
provided,  also,  that  the  same  proportion  be  observed  in 
the  said  elections,  between  the  clergy  and  the  laity, 
which  is  observed  in  this  act."  A  meeting  was  called  and 
holden  in  the  Senate  chamber  in  Boston,  24  May,  1786, 
and  the  Society  was  organized  by  the  choice  and  qualifi- 
cation of  the  several  officers  named  in  the  Act  of  Incor- 
poration. 

After  the  reading  of  the  Act  in  Convention,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  the 
Society,  on  such  measures  as  should  appear  to  be  most 
conducive  to  the  purposes  of  the  institution ;  and  the  next 
morning,  the  committee  made  the  following  Report : 

"  It  appears  to  your  Committee,  that  the  Society,  lately 
incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  Massachusetts  con- 
gregational charitable  society,  is  so  constituted  as  to 
answer  the  general  purposes  for  which  Convention  has 
so  long  wished  to  have  a  Society  incorporated ;  and  your 
Committee  think  it  advisable,  that  Convention  order  the 
Treasurer  to  deliver  such  monies  as  he  may  now  have, 
belonging  to  Convention,  into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
of  said  Society,  by  some  vote  of  the  following  kind : 

"  Whereas  there  is  now  in  the  Treasury  of  Convention 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  seventy  one  pounds  one  shil- 
ling and  seven  pence,  in  public  and  private  securities, 
which  sum  has  been  given  by  divers  persons,  the  interest 
of  which  is  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  widows 
and  orphans  of  deceased  Ministers,  which  monies  the 
Convention  wish  to  have  in  the  hands  of  a  legal  Trust ; 
Therefore, 

"  Voted,  That  the  Treasurer  of  the  Convention  be 
directed  to  put  the  above  mentioned  securities  and  what 


24 

other  property  he  may  have  belonging  to  the  Convention, 
into  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Massachusetts  Con- 
gregational Charitable  Society,  to  be  improved  by  said 
Society  in  such  ways  as,  in  their  wisdom,  they  shall 
judge  most  conducive  to  the  benevolent  purposes  of  the 
Donors ;  the  interest  of  which  securities,  and  such  other 
property,  as  the  Convention  may  put  into  the  hands  of 
said  Society,  to  be  distributed  from  time  to  time,  agree- 
ably to  the  advice  of  the  Convention."  The  Report  was 
accepted. 

The  Convention,  accordingly,  transferred  to  the  Socie- 
ty, in  trust,  571/.  Is.  7c?.  From  that  time  to  the  present, 
the  funds  of  Convention  have  been  held  and  improved  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Society's  stock ;  and  an  an- 
nual account  is  rendered  to  the  Convention  of  their  exact 
state.* 

In  reference  to  the  Incorporation  of  the  Society,  it  has 
been  observed :  "  This  indulgence  of  our  government  to 
the  clergy,  and  the  respect  so  universally  paid  to  religious 
institutions  by  the  rulers  of  our  state,  will  continue  the 
encouragement  to  men  of  literary  talents  to  settle  as  minis- 
ters ;  and  will  give  ease  to  the  pained  hearts  of  many, 
who,  after  spending  the  prime  of  their  life  in  labours  to 
promote  the  happiness  of  others,  are  leaving  widows  and 
orphans  on  the  arms  of  public  charity.  The  act  by  which 
this  Society  is  established,  independent  of  pecuniary  con- 
siderations, has  an  unfailing  influence  to  render  the  office 
of  a  minister  respectable.  It  is  the  Commonwealth's 
smile  of  approbation  upon  the  office,  and  will  render  to 

*  In  1820,  the  Fund  of  Convention,  before  its  appro- 
priations, was $5824  83 

Appropriated  300  00 


Amount  of  the  Fund         85524  83 


25 

the  clergy  a  substantial  support  in  the  important  duties  oi 
it.  Perhaps  there  never  was  an  institution,  which  was 
pointed  more  directly  to  proper  objects  of  charity,  or  in 
the  execution  of  which,  the  principles  of  true  benevolence* 
could  be  exerted  in  a  manner  more  productive  of  the  Gen- 
eral good  of  the  country."* 

The  Convention  has,  of  late  years,  added  to  the  Annual 
Collection,  after  the  Convention  Sermon,  for  immediate 
distribution,  #300 ;  and  the  Contribution  at  the  Annual 
Collection  has  been  from  300  to  600  dollars.  The 
Massachusetts  Congregational  Charitable  Society  have, 
of  late,  annually  voted  #200,  to  be  added  to  the  Collec- 
tion ;  and  this  is  distributed  by  vote  of  the  Convention 
among  a  number  of  widows  of  deceased  ministers.  The 
Society  have  given,  besides,  a  considerable  sum,  annual- 
ly, to  those  objects  of  their  bounty,  whose  circumstances 
were  peculiarly  necessitous.f  "  But  they  have  felt  it  a 
duty,  in  the  management  of  their  funds,  to  endeavour 
to  add  something  to  the  capital,  by  reserving  annually 
a  portion  of  the  interest  ;  so  that  in  time,  it  may  be 
hoped,  the  proceeds  may  be  more  adequate  than  hereto- 
fore to  the  applications  continually  urged  for  help  and 
relief.  They  acknowledge,  with  pleasure,  the  liberality 
of  many ;    and  doubt  not  the  continued  benefactions  of 

*  "  History  of  the  Society,"  in  an  Appendix  to  Dr.  Thacher's 
Sermon  in  1795,  "By  a  member  who  is  not  a  minister."  It  is  as- 
cribed to  the  late  governor  Sullivan. 

t  In  1820,  the  Congregational  Charitable  Society  voted, 

To  be  added  to  the  Collection         -         -         -         g200 

"      given  to  indigent  widows  -         -         .     iooo 

The  Society  has  paid  from  its  own  Funds, 

(Total  amount)  To  widows  and  orphans        -         -         -     3875 

"  To  Convention  -         -         -         -         2150 

From  Fund  of  Convention  (per  order)        3269  31 

•i 


26 

the  friends  of  religion,  to   a   charity  so   important  and 
interesting."* 

The  Convention  embraced  all  the  congregational  minis- 
ters in  the  Commonwealth,  including  the  District  of  Maine, 
until  the  formation  of  Maine  into  a  separate  State,  in  1820. 
A  committee,  chosen  the  last  year  by  Convention,  "to 
take  into  consideration  the  subject  of  the  appropriations  of 
the  charity  of  Convention  to  widows  in  Maine,"  have  been 
officially  informed,  that  a  similar  Convention  has  been  or- 
ganized in  Maine,  since  the  separation.  "  A  majority  of 
the  Associations  were  in  favour  of  such  a  measure.  Of 
this  public  notice  was  given,  and  a  meeting  of  congrega- 
tional ministers  requested.  On  the  18th  of  January  a 
respectable  number  of  them  assembled  and  formed  them- 
selves into  a  Convention  on  the  same  broad  basis,  on 
which  the  Convention  in  Massachusetts  is  established." 
A  correspondence  and  conference  have  been  held  with  the 
officers  of  that  Convention,  and  a  satisfactory  arrangement, 
in  relation  to  the  Fund,  is  expected  to  be  made  at  the 

*  '•  Account  of  the  Mass.  Cong.  Charitable  Society,"  1815. 
Beside  numerous  other  less,  but  valuable  donations,  the  Society 
have  recorded  the  following  : 

John  Winslow,  Esq.  of  Dunstable,  "  towards  a  per- 
petual fund"  -  •      -         -         -         £200  =  §666.66 
Hon.  Thomas  Russell  -         -         -         -       200  =     666.66 
Jonathan  Mason,  Esq.      -         -         -  ■  -       200 
Joseph  Barrel!,  Esq.     -----  400 
Miss  Anna  Cabot  Lowell,  beside  §5000,  in  trust,  for 

this  and  other  purposes  -  1000 

Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  (Sen.) 200 

John  Derby,  Esq.  a  legacy  -  1000 

Subscriptions  procured  by  Samuel  Eliot,  Esq. 

upwards  of 4000 

Mrs.  Lowell,  widow  of  the  late  Judge  Lowell    -         -     2400 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks 200 

Samuel  Eliot,  Esq.  a  legacy       -----     3000 
Joseph  Coolidge,  Esq.  a  legacy         -  500 


27 

next  annual  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Convention. 
The  remembrance  of  our  brethren  w  ill  not  be  obliterated, 
nor  our  sympathies  with  their  widows  and  orphan  chil- 
dren extinguished,  by  a  political  division  of  the  Common- 
wealth. What  should  be  the  measure  of  our  charity,  upon 
this  change  of  relations,  is  for  the  Convention  to  deter- 
mine. 


Rules  and  Regulations  of  Convention. 

I.  The  Convention  is  opened  on  the  day  of  the  Gen- 
eral Election,  at  5  o'clock,  P.  M. ;  and  on  the  following 
day,  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.  a  Sermon  is  delivered  in  public 
before  the  Convention,  and  a  Collection  made  for  the 
indigent  Widows  of  congregational  ministers. 

II.  Every  ordained  Congregational  Minister,  having 
the  care  of  a  particular  church  within  this  Common- 
wealth shall  be  considered  as  a  member  of  this  Conven- 
tion ;  the  Presidents  and  Professors  in  the  Theological 
departments  in  any  public  seminary  in  this  Common- 
wealth may  be  admitted  by  special  vote,  and  no  others 
shall  be  eligible  :  yet,  congregational  ministers,  dismissed 
from  their  pastoral  relation  with  good  recommendations, 
and  continuing  to  preach,  as  candidates  for  settlement, 
may  be  honorary  members,  and  have  the  privilege  of  sit- 
ting and  deliberating  in  the  Convention,  but  not  of  voting. 

III.  The  person  who  preaches  the  annual  Convention 
Sermon  shall  be  considered  as  Moderator  of  Convention 
for  that  year. 

IV.  When  any  person  has  any  subject  or  question  to 
propose  to  Convention  for  their  consideration,  he  shall 
give  it  in,  before  the  Convention  proceeds  to  business,  to 
the  Scribe  of  Convention,  to  be  by  him  put  on  the  list  of 
articles  to  be  acted  on  by  Convention,  which  list  shall  be 


read  before  business  commences ;  or,  if  he  be  prevented  from 
doing  this  by  necessity,  he  shall  deliver  it,  stated  on  paper, 
to  the  Scribe,  who  shall  read  it  to  the  Convention,  that  it 
may  be  at  their  disposal ;  and  no  person  shall  be  allowed 
to  speak  more  than  twice  on  the  same  subject,  except  by 
leave  of  Convention. 

V.  A  Standing  Committee  of  thirty  shall  be  appointed, 
five  of  whom  shall  be  chosen  centrally,  and  the  remainder 
in  different  parts  of  the  State.  The  five  shall  act  as  a 
Reporting  Committee,  to  receive  from  the  other  members 
of  the  Committee  applications  and  statements  of  facts  in 
behalf  of  persons  who  may  be  subjects  of  the  charity  of 
the  Convention,  and  having  considered  the  same,  shall 
judge  of  the  persons  to  be  relieved,  and  the  proportion  to 
be  given  to  each,  and  make  report  to  Convention  on  the 
first  day  of  their  meeting,  annually. 

VI.  The  indigent  widows  of  congregational  ministers, 
and  their  orphan  children  under  age,  are  the  proper  ob- 
jects of  the  charities  of  Convention. 


When  the  widow  of  any  congregational  minister  is 
considered  an  object  of  the  charity  of  the  Convention,  it 
is  desired,  that,  by  the  first  of  May  in  each  year,  answers 
may  be  given,  by  one  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  the 
Reporting  Committee,  to  the  following  questions  : 

1 .  What  is  her  age  ? 

2.  What  are  the  number,  the  sex,  the  ages,  and  the 
circumstances  of  her  children  ? 

3.  What  is  a  fair  estimate  of  her  property  ? 

4.  What  is  her  ability  to  help  herself  ? 

5.  What  connexions  has  she,  who  are  bound  to  afford 
her  assistance  ?    And  in  what  way  do  they  assist  her  ? 


29 

6.  What  is  her  income  ? 

7.  What  peculiar  circumstances  render  her  an  object  of 
charity ;  or  make  it  desirable,  that  she  should  have  aid 
this  year  ? 

The  Standing  Committee  are  also  desired  to  give  notice 
to  the  Scribe,  whenever  an  alteration  takes  place  in  the 
circumstances  of  the  widows,  who  are  objects  of  charity. 


TREASURERS  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

Rev.  Joseph  Sewall, 

Ebenezer  Pemberton, 
Andrew  Eliot, 
William  Gordon, 
Simeon  Howard, 
Oliver  Everett, 
Joseph  Eckley, 
John  Eliot, 
William  E.  Channing, 
Charles  Lowell, 
Francis  Parkman. 


TllEACHERS  OF  THE  CONVENTION  SERMON. 


By  whom. 
A.  D.       Rev. 
1682  John  Sherman, 

1722  *  tCotton  Mather, 

1723  fNehemiah  Walter, 

1724  fPeter  Thacher, 
1726  fWilliam  Williams, 
1728  John  Williams, 

1738  John  Barnard, 

1739  Nathaniel  Eelles, 

1740  Thomas  Prince, 

1741  f  Ed  ward  Holyoke, 

1742  Israel  Loring, 

1743  f  Nathaniel  Appleton, 

1744  f  Charles  Chauncy,  D.  D. 

1745  f  Peter  Clark, 

1746  fEbenezer  Gay, 

1748  Edward  Wigglesworth,  D.D. 

1749  John  Barnard, 

1750  William  Welsteed, 

1751  Samuel  Wigglesworth, 

1753  f  Samuel  Phillips, 

1754  Stephen  Williams, 

1755  Joseph  Parsons, 

1756  Hull  Ahbot, 

1757  fWilliam  Rand, 

1758  f Jonathan  Townsend, 

1759  Ebenezer  Pemberton, 

1760  William  Balch, 

1761  fEbenezer  Parkman, 

1762  Samuel  Mather, 

1763  John  Lowell, 

1765  Charles  Chauncy,  D.D. 

1766  Thomas  Prentice, 

1767  Andrew  Eliot,  D.D. 

1768  f  John  Tucker, 

1769  Samuel  Dunbar, 

1770  Samuel  Cooper,  D.D. 

1771  Robert  Breck, 


Of -what  place. 

Water  town. 
Boston. 
Roxbury. 
Milton. 
Hatfield. 
Deerfield. 
Marblehead. 
Scituate 
Boston. 

Pres.  of  H.  Coll. 
Sudbury. 
Cambridge. 
Boston. 
Salem  Village. 
Hingham. 
S.  T.  P.  Harv.  Coll 
Andover. 
Boston. 
Ipswich. 
Andover. 
Springfield. 
Bradford. 
Charlestown. 
Kingstown. 
Needham. 
Boston. 
Bradford. 
Westborough. 
Boston. 
Newburyport. 
Boston. 
Charlestown. 
Boston. 
Newbury. 
S  tough  ton. 
Boston. 
Springfield. 


Text. 


Rev.  ii.  19. 
1  Tim.  i.  12. 
Phil.  i.  21.  (MS.) 
Col.  iv.  11. 

Col.  i.  IS. 

1  Sam.  iv.  13. 
Isai.  ix.  7. 
Matth.  xvi.  6. 

Matth.  v.  13,  14. 
Titus  ii.  15. 
Romans  iii.  1,  2. 
John  i.  32. 

2  Corinth,  iv.  1. 

1  Tim.  iv.  6. 

2  Corinth,  xi.  2. 
Acts  x.  36. 
Exodus  xxv,  8. 
Matth.  v.  14,  15,  16. 

1  Thess.  ii.  4. 

1  John,  8. 
Rom.  xi.  13. 

2  Corinth,  i.  12. 
2  Corinth,  v.  14. 
2  Corinth,  xi.  28. 
2  Corinth,  vii.  2. 
Acts  viii.  5. 

1  Corinth,  xiv.  1. 
James  v.  19,  20. 
Col.  iv.  11. 
Gal.  i.  8,  9. 
Rev.  xii.  1. 
Heb.  xiii.  1. 


•  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  Sermon,  in  1689,  has  been  erroneously  supposed  to 
have  been  delivered  before  the  Convention  of  Ministers.  It  was  "  preached  to 
the  Convention  of  the  Colony." 

f  The  Sermons  with  this  mark  f  are  in  the  Library  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society.  A  complete  series  of  them  would  be  highly  valued  by  a 
Society,  whose  objects  are,  "  the  collection  and  preservation,  for  the  use  of 
the  public  and  posterity,  of  all  documents  relating  to  the  history  and  anti- 
quities, ecclesiastical,  civil,  and  natural,  of  our  country." 


31 


1772  fSamuel  Locke,  D.  D. 

1773  -j-Edward  Barnard, 

1774  James  Chandler, 

1775  Benjamin  Stevens, 

1776  Samuel  Cooke, 

1777  Samuel  Langdon,  D.D. 

1778  Isaac  Morrill, 

1779  Samuel  Webster, 

1780  Ebenezer  Bridge, 

1781  John  Mellen, 

1782  Thaddeus  Maccarty, 

1783  Daniel  Shute, 

1784  Joseph  Willard, 

1785  Phillips  Payson, 

1786  Moses  Hem  men  way, 

1787  Gad  Hitchcock, 

1788  Nathan  Fiske, 

1789  Jacob  dishing, 

1790  Simeon  Howard,  D.D. 

1791  Jason  Haven, 

1792  Josiah  Bridge, 

1793  Thomas  Barnard, 

1794  Chandler  Bobbins,  D.D. 

1795  Henry  Cumings,  D  D. 

1796  fJeremy  Belknap,  D.D. 

1797  fDavid'Tappan,  D.D. 

1798  JDavid  Osgood,  D.D. 

1799  -j-Eli  Forbes, 

1800  John  Latlirop,  D.D. 
1S01  f  Joseph  Dana,  D.D. 

1802  Peter  Thacher,  D.D. 

1803  Thomas  Prentiss, 

1804  Nathanael  Emmons, 

1805  Zedekiah  Sanger, 

1806  tJoseph  Lyman,  D.D. 

1807  tJohn  Beed,  D.D. 

1808  Daniel  Chaplin, 

1809  Samuel  Spring,  D.D. 

1810  fEliplialet  Porter,  D.D. 

1811  -j-Keuken  Puffer,  D.D. 

1812  Jedidiah  Morse,  D.D. 

1813  John  T.  Kirkland,  D.D. 

1814  Jesse  Appleton,  D.D. 

1815  Charles  Stearns,  D.D. 
1*16  William  E.  Channing, 

1817  Alvan  Hyde,  D  I). 

1818  Henry  Ware,  D.D. 

1819  fAbiel  Holmes,  D.D. 

1820  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.D. 


Pres.  of  H.  Coll. 

Haverhill. 

Bowley. 

Kittery. 

Cambridge. 

Pres.  of  H.  Coll. 

Wilmington. 

Salisbury. 

Chelmsford. 

Hanover. 

Worcester. 

Hingham. 

Pres.  of  H.  Coll. 

Chelsea. 

Wells. 

Pembroke. 

Brookfield. 

Waltham. 

Boston. 

Dedham. 

Sudbury. 

Salem. 

Plymouth. 

Billerica. 

Boston. 

S.  T.  P.  Har.  Coll. 

Medford. 

Gloucester. 

Boston. 

Ipswich. 

Boston. 

Medfield. 

Franklin. 

Bridgewater. 

Hatfield. 

Bridgewater. 

Groton. 

Newburyport. 

Boxbury. 

Berlin. 

Charlestown. 

Pres.  of  H.  Coll. 

Pres.  of  B.  Coll. 

Lincoln. 

Boston. 

Lee. 

S.  T.  P.  Har.  Coll 

Cambridge. 

Worcester. 


2  Corinth,  iv.  2. 
John  iv.  36,  37,  38. 
2  Tim.  iv.  7,  8. 
Matth.xxiv.  45,  46. 
1  Thess.  ii.  4. 
Gal.  i.  11,  12. 
Dan.  xii.  3. 
Matth.  vii.  23,  29. 


Acts  ii.  42. 


1  Thess.  ii.  4. 
Eccl.  iii.  1. 
Acts  xx.  26. 
Rom.  xi.  13. 

2  Tim.  i.  8. 

Exod.  xxviii.  36.  38. 
Matth.  xiii.  33. 
2  Corinth,  vi.  3,  4. 

Rom.  i.  16. 

Rom.  i.  9. 

Luke  xiv.  23. 

1  Corinth,  i.  10. 

Isaiah  i.  18 

1  Corinth,  xi.  1. 

Matt,  xxiii.  8,  9,  10. 

Mai.  ii.  7. 

1  Thess.  iv.  17,  18. 

2  Corinth,  xi.  3. 
Coloss.  iv.  11. 

1  Tim.  i.  5. 
Tit.  ii.  11,  14. 

2  Tim.  i.  10. 
John  xiii.  13. 
Isai.  ii.  4. 

2  Pet.  ii.  1. 
John  xx.  31. 
Titus  i.  7. 
Philipp.  i.  17. 


From  an  inspection  of  the  subjects  it  is  evident,  that  the  Dis- 
course has  always  been  considered,  not  as  a  mere  Charity  Ser- 
mon, but  a  Concio  ad  Clerum. 


32 
SCRIBES  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


174S,  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  Boston,  1755 

1755,  Rev.  Jonathan  Mayhew,  Boston,  1757 

1757,  Rev.  Samuel  Cooper,  Boston,  1758 

1758,  Rev.  Andrew  Eliot,  Boston,  1761 

1761,  Rev.  Samuel  Mather,  Boston,  1762 

1762,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Bridge,  Chelmsford,  1763 

1763,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Parkman,  Westborough,  1766 
1766,  Rev.  Amos  Adams,  Roxbury,  1776 
1776,  Rev.  Jacob  Cushing,  Waltham,  1779 
1779,  Rev.  John  Lathrop,  Boston,  1787 
1787,  Rev.  John  Clarke,  Boston,  1792 
1792,  Rev.  John  Bradford,  Roxbury,  1794 
1794,  Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse,  Charlestown,  1800 
1800,  Rev.  John  T.  Kirkland,  Boston,  IS  10 
1810,  Rev.  John  Pierce,  Brookline,  1820 
1820,  Rev.  John  Codman,  Dorchester. 


Form  of  a  Bequest  or  Legacy. 

Item,  I  give  and  bequeath  the  sum  of 
to  the  Massachusetts  Congregational  Charitable  Society,  in  trust, 
to  be  applied,  at  their  discretion,  to  the  relief  and  support  of  the 
widows  and  children  of  deceased  ministers,  and  other  persons 
mentioned  in  the  Act  of  Incorporation. 


i  v 


I    PHOTOMOUNT 
'l   •"'AMPHLET  BINDER 


*(      Manufactured  by 
GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Stockton,  Calif. 


jr.  *£ 


~-'   '.'7.^* 


Jr^-~  ySx*1***^ 


.-'-"^r. 


9   ■■ 


